Refrigerator car construction



March 10, 1942.

5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 W. E. BAILLIE REFRIGERATOR CAR vCONSTRUCTION Filedvsept'. 5., 1940 WRI/MAP March 10', 1942. w. E..BA1LL|E Y REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION 5, Smeets-Sheet` 2 Fiied sept. 5, 1940 lllll llllll In Mardi 10, 1942- w. E. SAILLIE REFRIGERTQR CAR ACONS'I'PUCTION Filed Sepp'. 5,l 1940 5 sheets-sheet s 5 Sheeits-Sheet 4 w. E. SAILLIE REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 5, 1940 March l0, 1942 March 1o, 1942.

w. E. SAILLIE REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION lFiled Sept. l5, 1940 `5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Wallace E. Baillie,` Chicago, Ill., assigner to Standard Railway Refrigerator Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware J Application September 5, 1940, Serial No. 355,499

18 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essentialfeatures of a refrigerator car are an insulated `body to prevent or retard ingress of `heat during .warm weather and egress of heat during cold weather and a cooling means and sometimes a.` heating means to be used during warm and cold weather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling meanspreferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the `roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced `relation to the floor by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car, communicate between the cooling means and the space under the floor rack to provide a path for the circulation of air. The path is from the cooling means downwardly through the aforementioned flues, through the space underthe floor rack, upwardly through the lading compartment, thereby cooling the lading,1and nally to the cooling means from Where the cycle is repeated. L

It is `preferable to substantially enclose the refrigerant containers leaving only outlets for the cold air leading to the side Wall uesand air inlets for warm air at a higher `elevation than the outlets. The refrigerant containers are commonly positioned *directly` below the .roofl and near a side wall; a drip pan below a containerand a partition upstanding from the drip pan cooperate with the roof and said side Wall to enclose the container. l

It is desirable tctirequently clean or repair the refrigerant containers andthe drip pans'on` account of the severe service imposed by railway use and `by the corrosive action of salt brine which is commonly used in` refrigerant containers. `It is an `object of the invention, therefore, to provide drippans which may be easily and quickly removed and replaced in order to provide access to the containers and a further object to provide pans rigidly securedv within the car in order to prevent leakage of liquid and excessive vibration ofparts of `the car; Y

Another object is to designthe drip` pan land the support therefor in such a way Athat the space available for the lading is not restricted. This is` quite important when1it is considered that some types of lading are packed in standard containers which are proportioned to` fit` with small clearances into astandard refrigerator car. 4. 7

(o1. ca -17) Another object is to eliminate exposed hinges, locks and other metallic parts upon which moisture might condense. The temperature within the car is sometimes very low, and when the doors are opened, the warm and humid air enters the car and condenses upon exposed metal surfaces. The condensed moisture then drips upon the lading with consequent damage thereto.

l Other objects `and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.`

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a. section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar to aportion of Fig. 1 and show modified constructions.

Fig.`6 shows a drip pan hinged to the side wall and supported adjacent the center of the car.

Fig. 7 shows a modified type of spring.

Figs. 8-10 show modied means to support the edge of the drip pan adjacent the side wallV of the car.

Fig. 11 shows a drip pan attached byspring means at both edges thereof.

Figs. 12 and 13 are sections on lines l2-.l2

and l3`|3, respectively, of Fig. 11.

Fig. `14 shows another modied means of supporting the edge of the drip pan adjacent the side wall of the car.

Fig. -15 is a section online l5--l5 of Fig. 14.

Figs. 16-19 Ashow drip pans :hinged adjacent Vthe center 'of the car.

` Fig. 20' shows a sliding hinge arrangement at the center of the car.

Fig. 21 is `an elevational View of the hinge arrangement shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 shows a drip pan held in place by springs 4, interposed between the drip pan and the carlines.` i

Fig. 23 is a section on line 23--23 of Fig 22.

The general parts of the refrigerator car shown vare insulated roof A; side walls B; `floor D; re-

`frigerant containers E; hatchesv F for loading refrigerant into the containers E; side wall fines G;

` foraminous floor rack H and space J between the rack H and the floor D. A refrigerant container E is positioned directly below the roof A and adjacent a side wall` B. A drip pan K is provided below the container E and a partition L is disposed in` an upstanding position at the edge of the drip pan E. Therdrip pan K and the parti 29 of the members 28.

has a veneer 35, such as light gauge metal, on they tion thereto.

*draining` over the drip pan K is directed by'the tion L cooperate with the roof A and the upper part of the side wall B to form an enclosure M around the container E, an air inlet opening N to the enclosure M being provided by spacing the partition L from the roof A. An air discharge opening P leads from the enclosure M 'to the flue G at a lower elevation than the air inlet opening N. Cars of this type commonly have a row of refrigerant containers E near each side wall B,`

which containers are spaced apart at the center of the car. The partitions L are also spaced apart to form a duct Q which communicates between the lading compartment R and openings N. f Air circulation is as follows: Air in the` lading compartment R is warmed by contact with the 'side sills and inner (5) and outer (5) side plates.

Outer posts 8 extend between and are secured to the outer plate 6 and sill 3 and the wall sheathing is secured to the outer plate 6, sill 3 and posts 8. Inner posts i I extend between the inner plate 5 and sill 2; flue sheets lf2 attached to the posts Il are `provided withoutwardlyprojecting panels I4 which cooperate with the lining i5 to form the nues G for air circulation. Carlines I extend between and aresecured to the inner Vposts H yand the refrigerant containers E are secured to the carlines by a suitable means, preferably that shown in co-pending Bonsall application Serial No. 308,535, liledDecember l1, 1939. rhe spaced apart partitions L depend from the carlines ll and are secured thereto by the angle clips I8.

The drip pan K comprises a relatively rigid member 23, preferably wood, yand a covering of waterproof veneer on the upper surface thereof, which veneer is preferably light gauge metal. Battens 25 which extend crosswise of the car reinforce the drip pan K. A plurality of spaced apart supporting members 28 are secured to the car wall B, preferably to the upper part of the' lining i5, and are provided with upwardly facing vrecesses 29. 3 marginal part thereof a strip-l which forms a protruding part 32 with a depending end 34 ar-` The drip pan K has secured to a ranged to nest in the upwardly facingrecesses The lining I5 preferably side` thereof adjacent "the flue G. The upper marginal part 37 vof the veneer 35 is `flared toward the lading compartment R'of the car and the veneer 25 of the Ydrip pan K is bent with ya part'tl of the lining 'veneer 55 in spaced4 rela- It is evident Vfrom Fig. 2 that liquid flared part 3i of the lining veneer 35 into the side wall fiue Gand cannot enter the lading compartment R of the car.

TheU-edge of the'drip pan'K remote from the yside wall'B is attached to the partition L by any convenient means,such as the" bolts 4i] shown.

f Aleaf spring 4i vis secured to the drip pangK and"v 75 projects upwardly therefrom. The spring M `is Y depending edge 58 arranged to overlap the flared in contact with the bottom 43 of the refrigerant container E and is arranged to exert a downward force upon the drip pan K so as to maintain the protruding part 32 thereof engaged with the recesses 29 of the supporting members 28. The spring 4l thus keeps the drip pan K tightly positioned and the pan may be easily removed by pushing upwardly, thereby compressing the spring il and disengaging the protruding part 32 from the recesses 29. It is obvious that the design can be modied by attaching a spring to the refrigerant container E insteadof to the drip pan K, in which case the function would be identical with that heretofore described.

p Fig. 4 shows a modified means of attaching the drip pan K to the partition L. A clamping means 45 is hinged (44) to the partition L and has an arm 45 arranged to underlie the drip pan K. A bolt 58 is provided which may be removed when it is desired to release the drip pan K.

Fig. 5 shows another modified means to attach the drip pan K to the partition L. An upwardly facing hook 5U is attached to the partition L and a downwardly facing hook 5I is attached to the drip pan K. A spring, such as shown at (4|) in Fig. 1,7is provided between the container E and the drip Ypan K to hold the hooks 50, 5| in engagement. The resilient material 53, such as sponge rubber may be compressedrto permit eni gagement of the hooks and prevents leakage of liquidbetween the partition L and the drip pan K.

Fig. 6 shows the drip pan K hinged (54) to the side wall lining I5 but it may be hinged to any part of the side wall B' by any suitable type of hinge. The partition L depends from and is hinged to the carline I1 so as to be swingable away from the container E. A vertical face of the partition L is recessed (56) and a strip 5.1 secured to the partition L overlaps the lower part of the vrecess 55. A downwardly facing hook 55 is attached to the drip pan K and is arranged to be hooked over the strip 51. The spring vH interposed between the container E and the drip pan K maintains the hook 59 and the strip 5'! in engaged relation; if it is desired to lower the drip pan K, the pan is pushed upwardly, thereby compressingv the spring 4l, and the partition L is then swung about the hinge 55 away from the f container E a sufficient distance to allow the drip panK to be swung downwardly about the hinge Fig. '1 shows ahelical spring 65 which may be used in place of the leaf spring 4I shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The helical spring may be attached to either the drip pan K or the container E. Fig. '7

vshows the spring attached to the drip pan K by a strap '66 which overlies the lowermost coil and `is bolted to the drip pan K. A member 53 hav-- 'ing an upstanding peripheral flange 59 is provided around the spring to prevent the leakage of water through the drip pan K.

v -Fig. V8 shows a modified `means tol support the edge of thedrip pan K which is adjacent the side wall B. The drip pan veneer 25' has a depending margin 'I3 which overlaps the lining veneer 35 in Contact therewith. The' drip pan K has protruding parts 14 whichhave ends 76 depending in spaced relation to the depending margin 'I3 of the drip pan veneer 25. paced apart supporting members 'H having upwardly facing recesses i9 are secured to the side wallB and provide supports for the protruding parts 74. The usual spring 4| is provided to maintain the parts 'M and members 11 in engaged relation. I

side wall posts I I rather than to the container E.`

Fig. 10 includes, in addition, a bearing member 94 attached to the bottom 43 of the container E and interposed .between the bottom 43 and the spring` 4I to prevent excessive wear on the bottom of the container. The bearing member 94 maybe made of metal, wood or a composition, such as masonite.

In Figs. 11-13, the edge of the drip pan K adjacent the side wall B of the car is supported by recessed supporting members 28 as shown in Fig. 1. The spring for maintaining the protruding part 32 of the drip pan K engaged with the recesses 29 comprises a horizontally extending part 91 secured at its central portion to the inner posts `|I of the car and having a semi-circular `leaf spring 98 formed on each end thereof. The

springs 98 exert a downward force upon the drip pan K. The edge of the drip pan K adjacent the center of the car is supported by a hook similar tothe hook 59 shown in Fig. 6 except that the recess IUI in the partition L is on the opposite side thereof. in engaged relation with the strip |03 by a double leaf spring |64 attached to the partition L and having both ends |06 bearing upon the drip pan K to exert a downward force thereon. Resilient material |81 is secured to the lower edge of the partition L to prevent leakage of liquid `into the lading compartment R of the car.

In Figs. 14 and 15, an angle shaped clip ||I| is attached to the inner side wll post and a pin depends from and is rigidly secured to the horizontal leg I|3 of the clip III). The drip pan K has a U-shaped member ||4 secured to the uppersurface thereof and the upper leg II6 of the member I I4 has a hole adapted to fit over the pin` I I I. A double leaf spring secured at its center to the drip pan K and interposed between the drip pan Kand the upper edge of thelining I exerts an upward force upon the drip pan K `and keeps the U-memberII4 engaged with the pin III. 'I'he drip pan is removed by exerting a downward pressure thereon sufcient to compress the spring I|1 and disengage the U-member II4 from the pin `I Iv I.

In the modification showniin Fig. 16, the edge of the drip panK which is adjacent the side Wall B of the car is supported as shown in Fig. 1. The partition L is secured to the carlines I1 by angle clips I8 and the drip pan K is hinged tothe partitionL by a hinge arrangement |28 designed to permit horizontal lateral movement of the drip pan K toward the center of the car sufn'cient to allow the edge |2I of the drip pan K to clear the side walllining I5. Such a hinge arrangement is disclosed and described in co-pending West application Serial No. 315,467 filed January 25,

1940. A spring 4| is provided to maintain the protruding part 32 of the drip pan K engaged with recesses 29 of the supporting members 28 and a locking pin |23 is provided in the hinge |28 to prevent the swinging thereof.

` In Fig. 17 the partition L and the drip pan The hook |80 is maintained l K are made integral and the hinge |25comprises a strap |26 having the upper end pivoted to the carline and the lower end pivoted to the partition L. The strap |26 is inclined so that when the protruding part 32 of the drip pan K is disengaged from the recesses 29 of the supporting members 28, the entire drip pan and partition assembly |28 may be moved laterally toward the center of the car until the edge I2| of the drip pan K clears the lining I5 and then rotated downwardly about the hinge |25.

In Fig. 18` the partition L is rigidly attached to the carlines and the drip pan K is hinged to the partition L by a simple hinge |33. The upper part |34 of the lining I5 is hinged (|36) to the fixed parts |31 of the lining and arranged to be swung downwardly within the car about a horizontal axis. The drip pan veneer 25 has a depending part |39 and a clip |46 is provided on the lower surface of the drip pan K which have inserted between them the upper edge of the hinged part |34 of the lining I5. In order to lower the drip pan K, it isnecessary that it be moved upwardly about the hinge |33 against the compressive force of the spring 4I until the hinged part |34 of the lining I5 is free to swing degrees about the hinge |35 into a depending position. The drip pan K may then be rotated downwardly about the simple hinge |33.

In the modication shown in Fig. 19, the partition L is also rigidly attached to the carline I'| and the drip pan K is hinged by a simple hinge |33 to the partition L. The sidewall lining I5 has attached thereto a latch |45 formed by a vertically disposed plate |46 flared toward the lading compartment R so as to provide aseat |48 for supporting the edge |49 of the drip pan K. 'The spring 4| interposed between the drip pan K and the container E holds the drip pan K seated upon the latch |45. The drip pan K is swung downwardly by compressing the latch plate |46 towardvthewall B of the car. A sliding piece I5| is provided to deflect liquid from the drip pan K tothe side wall flue G, the sliding piece |5I being held in position by the helical spring |52.

The modification shown in Figs. 20 and 2l is similar to that shown in Fig. 16 except for the means of hinging the drip pan K to the partition L. The pin |55 is supported .below the partition L by the strap |56 attached to the partition. A notch |59 is out in the edge of the drip pan and facing channels |58 are provided on the edges of the notch |59. The pin |55 extends between and is journaled in the channels |58 so that the drip pan K may be either rotated about the pin |55 or moved laterally, in which latter case the pin |55 rolls in the channels |58.

In the modification shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the edge of the drip pan K adjacent the side wall B of the car is supported as shown in Fig. 1 and the edge remote from the side wall B is supported as in Fig. 5. The springs |65 for maintaining the supporting means in engaged relation are interposed between the drip pan K and the carlines I'I. As shown at the left of Fig. 23,

a double leaf spring |66 is attached to the care ited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as` it isi. obvious that various modications thereof Within the Scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I.. claim: Y

1,. In a refrigerator car having a roof., a Wall and a refrigerant container below said roof, the combination of a drip pan below said'container, a supporting member rigidly supported within the car, said d rip pan having a part arranged to engage with said member to provide a support for the drip pan, and a spring arranged. to yieldingly hold said part and said member in engaged relation.

2.l In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall and a refrigerant container below said roof, the combination of a drip pan below said container, a supporting member having a recess rigidly supported within the. car, a part protruding from said drip pan and arranged to nest in said recess to provide a support for the drip pan, and a spring arranged to yieldingly hold said part in nesting relation with said recess.

3. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall and a refrigerant container below said roof, the

combination of a drip pan below said container, a supporting member rigidly supported within the car, said drip pan having a part arranged to engage with said member to provide a support for the drip pan, and a spring interposed between said container and said drip pan and arranged to yieldingly hold said part and said member in engaged relation.v

4. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall and a refrigerant container below said roof and l' adjacent said wall, the combination of a drip pan below said container, a supporting member secured to said wall, said drip pan having a part arranged to engage with said member to provide a support for the drip pan, a spring arranged to yieldingly hold said part and said member in engaged relation, and means to support the edge of said drip pan remote from said part.

5. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall and a refrigerant container below said roof and adjacent said wall, the combinationlof a drip pan below said container, a substantially vertical partition disposed adjacent the side, of the container which is remote from said wall, a supporting member secured to said partition, said drip pan having a part arrangedl to engage with said member to provide a support for the drip pan, a spring arranged to yieldingly hold said part and said member in engaged relation, and

means to support the edge of said drip pan remote from said part. i

6. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall and a refrigerant container below said roof and adjacent said wall, the combination of a drip pan below said container, a substantially vertical partition disposed adjacent the side of the container which is remote from said wall, supporting members secured to said wall and to said drip pan having a part arrangedl to engage with said member to provide a, support for the drip pan,a spring arranged to yieldingly hold saidjpart andsaid member in engaged relation.

8. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a wall, a refrigerant container below said roof and carline members adjacent the ends of said container, the combination of a drip pan below said container, a vsupporting member rigidly supported within the car, said drip pan having apart arranged to engage with said; member to provide a support for the drip pan, anda spring interposed between one of said carlines and said drip pan and arranged to yieldingly hold said part and-said member in engaged relation.

9.. In a refrigerator car having a wall, a roof, a refrigerant container below saidroof andadjacent said wall, and a substantially vertical partition disposed oppositely of said container from said wall, the combination of a drip pan below `said vcontainer and' extending substantially between said wall and s aid partition, hinge means arranged to attach said drip pan to said wall and spring actuated latching means arranged to attach said drip pan to said partition,

1 0. In a refrigerator car having' a wall a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof and adjacent said wall, and a substantially vertical partition disposedv oppositely v.of said container from saidV wall, the combination of a drip pan below said container and extending substantially between saidf` Wall land said partition, hinge means arranged to attach said drip pan to said partition, and spring actuated latching means arranged' to` attach said drip pan to said Wall.

11. In a refrigerator vcar having a roof, arefrigerant container below the roof, a drip pan below said container, and a spring associated with said drip pan, said drip pan and said spring being arranged and associated with other parts of the car so that the drip. pan is yieldingly retained in position and so that the'drip. pan may be removed from position upon yielding of said spring.

12.y Ina refrigerator car having a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof, adrip pan below saidy container, and a spring, saidV drip pan and said` spring being arranged and associated withl other parts of the car so that the drip pan is yieldingly retained in position and sol that the drip pan may be removed" from position upon yielding of said spring. A

y l-3.`*In a refrigerator car including a refrigeranti` container, the combination of a drip pan below said container and spring actuated latching means for supporting said drip pan.

- 1'4. In a refrigerator car including 'a refrigerant container, the combination of adrippan below said container, interengaging members carried by said car and drip pan respectively, and means-to yieldingly hold said members in engagement.

l5. Means to support a drip pan within a refrigerator car comprising interengaging members 4carried by lsaid car, and drip pan respectively,

and'rmeans to yieldingly hold said members in engagement.

I6;v kIna refrigerator car having walls, roof and floor which dene a lading compartment, a refrigerant container below the roof and above the into said nue, interengaging supporting members carried respectively by the car and drip pan, and means to yieldingly hold said members in engagement. i y

1'7. In a refrigerator car having walls, roof and floor which dene a lading compartment, a refrigerant container below the roof and above the lading compartment, a vertically extending ue associated with one of said walls, a drip pan below said container having a part engaged with a part oi one of the walls enclosing said flue to direct` liquid into said iiue, interengaging supporting members carried respectively by the car and drip pan, and means to yieldingly hold said members in engagement, said means being disposed entirely above the lower surface of said drip pan so as not to encroach upon said lading compartment.

18. In a refrigerator car having walls, roof and floor which denne a lading compartment, a refrigerant container below the roof and above the lading compartment, a vertically extending flue associated with one of said walls, a drip pan below said container having a part engaged with a part of one of the walls enclosing said flue to direct liquid into said flue, interengaging supporting members carried respectively by the car and drip pan, and means to yieldingly hold said members in engagement, said means being disposed entirely within the space between said container and said drip pan so as not to encroach upon said lading compartment.

WALLACE E. BAILLIE.

, CERHFICATE 'oF c oRREcToN. Patent- No.V 2,275,717 .Q y March 10, 19LL2 wALLAoE E.

It isfhe'reby certified that thevabove' numbered patent was erroneously issued 't'o "Standard Railway Refrigerator Company, of Ghio'ago, Illinois, a corporation of Delaware" .whereasl said patent should have been issued to Standard Railway Devices Company", a corporation of Delaware, as

shom by the record oi assignments in'this office; and that the said- Letters Patentshould be readvwiththis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the .case in the Patent Office.` Y

Signed and sealed this 12th day of MayLA. D. 19142;

v Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of. Patents 

